What does veal mean?
Veal is the culinary term for the flesh of a calf. The word distinguishes meat from young cattle from beef, which comes from mature cattle, and it is particularly common in British, American, French, Italian, German, and other European culinary traditions. Veal appears in familiar preparations such as schnitzel, cutlets, roasts, and medallions, and it is also used to make stocks, sauces, and other dishes. When used as a mass noun in ordinary culinary writing, it generally takes no plural form: a cook might refer simply to fresh veal, tender veal, or a serving of veal. Historically, the word comes through Old French from a Latin term for a calf. Today, “veal” is standard vocabulary rather than a specialist term, although it may prompt discussion of food, cuisine, or animal welfare because of the animal’s young age and the methods sometimes associated with its production.
nounThe flesh or meat of a calf, used as food. In culinary contexts, it refers specifically to meat from young cattle rather than to beef from adult cattle.
- The flesh or meat of a calf used as food.
"The restaurant served veal medallions with lemon and herbs."
"She ordered veal schnitzel with potatoes and salad."
"The butcher recommended a roast of veal for the family meal."
Although “veals” is the standard listed plural, veal is ordinarily used as an uncountable mass noun in culinary contexts.
"The menu offered several veals prepared with different sauces."
Veal comes from a Latin word for a young calf—an edible clue to the word’s long culinary history.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does veal come from?
The word was borrowed into Middle English from Old French veal, whose Latin source was vitellus, a diminutive of vitulus, meaning “calf.” The Latin root also underlies cognates such as vitelline and vitellary, originally associated with calves or with the yolk of an egg.
How veal is actually used
Veal is a neutral culinary term in British and American English. It is more specific than beef because it identifies meat from a calf rather than from mature cattle.
Easily confused with veal
Veal names the meat of a calf, while a veil is a covering or garment that obscures the face or another object.